What if on Sept 14 1958, Eddie Machen had kayoed Ingemar Johansson?

Eddie Machen, Zora Folley and Willie Pastrano were the top contenders in the National Boxing Association ratings in the fall of 1958.

Over a 30-day period, there were three upsets. Eddie got knocked out by Ingo, Zora lost to Henry Cooper and Willie lost to Brian London.

Cooper turned right around and fought London, and beat him, too.

Patterson offered Cooper a title fight, but he turned it down because he wanted more money. So they offered the same money to London, and he took it and fought Patterson.

Then Floyd fought Ingo.

If Machen had beaten Ingo, and the other two upsets still ocurred, I think Floyd still fights London first. And then he probably fights Machen.

Floyd was better than Eddie Machen. I think he'd have successfully defended against him.

 

I see him getting a shot at Floyd. And maybe even a win for Machen over Patterson. It's a bit of a tough one this Richard. I can't quite decide. Lol.

 

Patterson, despite 3 shattering stoppage defeats from ‘59 - 63, had the character to regroup and handled Eddie easily. even carrying him in ‘64. Yes, Machen had been blitzed by Ingo as well, and had his health issues. Despite these factors, he was on a 5 bout knockout streak and ranked number 2.
I reckon Floyd would have beaten him, as he did in ‘64 and been too lively for IBC Eddie in ‘59, had it happened.

 

Machen was 32 years old, and had just come recently embarked on a return from a mental institution and would win just 3 of his next 10 fights after facing Patterson, one of which was a controversial SD to an obscure fighter. He was nowhere near the fighter he'd been years earlier, and even bringing up that bout is laughable as well.

 

Eddie would get a shot at Floyd and beat him, then after a year reign, gives Sonny an earlier shot, and losing a UD to him.